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3 days in Tenerife

Its warm climate all year round makes Tenerife, Spain, the perfect place to enjoy beaches, sun and sea, and all the activities and sports linked to them. But there is much more to this island, since under El Teide you will find a jigsaw puzzle of landscapes, seemingly competing to outdo each other for beauty: striking cliffs, green forests and deep valleys with picturesque villages full of flowers, which shows how the inhabitants have adapted to the land. Tenerife has excellent food and drink, a varied range of leisure activities and a talent for getting things right when it comes to tourism; these attractions, added to the wonders of the natural setting, offer everything that the visitor might want in a vacation. All those beautiful photos of the island are telling the truth: it really is that marvelous.

Here is our proposal for seeing the island in just 3 days:

Day 1:

When you get to Tenerife we recommend spending a day of rest and relaxation, enjoying its beaches. If you are staying at one of the RIU hotels on the Costa Adeje you will enjoy the Playa de los Cristianos beach with its light sand and clear waters. This is one of the island’s most lively areas and, as well as sunbathing and swimming, you can play some beach volleyball or football. If you are staying at the Hotel Riu Garoe, you can visit the Lago Martiánez salt water pool complex and nearby beach. After lunch, if you enjoy parks with an animal theme, what about the Jungle Park, located in a fantastic setting in the south of the island, or Loro Parque, in the north? If that is not the kind of thing you are looking for, we recommend a visit to the Adeje Massif and Barranco del Infierno Nature Reserve to see its spectacular waterfall and rock formations like the Roque del Conde, or take a trip through some of the lovely villages inland. A peaceful afternoon deserves an animated evening. If you are in the south, try the San Telmo area, near the Playa de las Américas, where you will find plenty of bars. If you are in the north, there are pubs, cafés and tapas bars aplenty in the Plaza del Charco area of Puerto de la Cruz.

Day 2:

Nobody should leave Tenerife without seeing the El Teide National Park. If you want to climb Spain’s highest peak, you must book by phone or using the official website, but if you just want to view the curious volcanic ecosystem of the area, you can take the cable car up to an altitude that offers some incredible views. Now you have seen some of the natural wonders of Tenerife, we suggest experiencing a little local culture. For this you can go to the Tenerife History and Anthropology Museum, in La Laguna. Located in an old mansion, its displays give visitors an in-depth look at Canarian life and history. If museums aren’t your thing but you want to find out more about the island, try the Casa del Vino La Baranda, a 17th-century farm that has information about local wines and also offers tastings. For the evening, we propose seeing a little of the island’s main town, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, with a stroll in the old quarter and in the Avenida de Anaga area by the harbor; these are the sites of Santa Cruz’s famous carnival, the world’s most popular after Rio de Janeiro’s.

Day 3:

If you like sports then you will love the island’s busier beaches, where you have the chance to try surfing, paragliding, scuba diving and more. Take the morning to discover your favorite water sport. If so much excitement is not for you then there are boat trips, including ones dedicated to dolphin and whale spotting and others that offer spectacular views of the island from the sea. An original option is the Bananera Jardines del Atlántico Park, where you can learn about the cultivation of one of the symbols of the Canary Islands: the banana. In the afternoon, wander in the old centers of traditional towns like La Laguna and Garachico, where you can see characteristic Tenerifan architecture and perhaps buy a few souvenirs of your stay here. If you prefer, this is a good time to seek out one of the island’s camel farms, where you can take a ride on one of these friendly animals. To end the day, relax and savor some island cuisine at the restaurant of your RIU hotel in Tenerife, and then enjoy all that your evening entertainment program has to offer.

Recommended in Tenerife

The best of Tenerife

Costa Adeje

Playa Fañabé beach: The tranquil waters of this beautiful stretch of pale golden sand are perfect for both children and adults to have fun in. Set in one of the most tourist-orientated places on the island, in its waters you can enjoy a wide range of activities: sailing, windsurfing, jetskis, banana boats and water scooters, amongst others.
Nearby there is a wide variety of shops and bars, the latter always livened up with music. The restaurants here offer a broad range of culinary options and above all, fantastic views of the sea.

Playa del Duque beach: This beach has characteristics very similar to those of the previous one, as it is right beside it. A series of dykes protect its sand from the large waves, so it is an ideal spot for the whole family. The best thing here is the spectacle offered by the waves breaking against the large rocky cliffs, with the island of La Gomera as a backdrop and the majestic Teide behind.

Playa Paraíso beach: Its main attraction is not the beach in itself, which is small; the best thing here is the spectacle offered by the waves breaking against the large rocky cliffs, with the island of La Gomera as a backdrop and the majestic Teide behind.

The area is also one of the best places on Tenerife for a diving “baptism”, that is, your first immersion with bottles. The ClubHotel Riu Buena Vista is set on the rocks, with direct access to the small cove of grey sand.

Puerto de la Cruz

Playa Jardín: The fine volcanic sands of this beach are protected by a large breakwater that penetrates the sea, protecting them from the currents. Puerto de la Cruz has always been a special tourist destination. It has welcomed visitors since the beginning of the last century, but always striving to preserve its identity and a certain exclusivity. The seafront promenade that borders the beach has fountains, sculptures, exotic gardens and benches to admire it all from, making this a very pleasant place, not only for bathing but also for relaxing and enjoying oneself.

Another singular attraction is Lago Martiánez, a network of 8 saltwater swimming pools sculpted from therock by Canarian artist Cesar Manrique. The creator always had a good relationship with nature and this is yet another example of it. The volcanic-rock lagoons adjoin the sea and are fed by it through channels, and bathed by turquoise waters. One must understand that this is no artificial creation, but the product of an artist who tamed the sea. Whilst the ocean’s wave break violently against the walls of the complex, children bathe in the calm waters of what is a singular, beautiful and safe place to spend a day of one’s holidays.

The Hotel Riu Garoe is located 1 km. from here and from the beach, affords privileged views and is surrounded by subtropical vegetation.

El Teide National Park

The volcanic violence of the Teide, which at 3718m is Spain’s highest mountain, created volcanic cones, badlands, rocks, ash and twisted tongues of lava that lend a very particular arid, rather startling appearance to the zone. The colours, shapes and landscapes have a singular kind of beauty, all under the attentive vigilance of the great volcano that dominates the scenery, which the indigenous Guanches called the “Echeyde”.

By means of a cable car you can clinb up to a height of 3550m, coming close to the summit. The spectacular views from its different viewing platforms will ensure you make the most of your camera.

A wide variety of paths run through the park, although if you are in a car you will also be able to enjoy beautiful spaces such as the Valley of Ucanca: a broad depression dominated by high crags that create a lunar-type landscape.

The apparently austere surroundings are the habitat of important species of endemic vegetation such as the ‘tajinaste rojo’, or tower of jewels, the ‘rosal del guanche’ (bencomia exstipulata), ‘retama’ (lygos sphaerocarpa) and the Teide violet. Although their names sound strange, these plants are beautiful and above all, unique. Invertebrates are the most important species in the park – there are over 700 of them, and 50% are endemic species.

The Forest Crown (La Corona Forestal)

The green ring that surrounds the Teide will delight you with spectacular woodland panoramas with the silhouette of the great volcano as a backdrop. One of the most characteristic images of this protected zone covering 46,500 hectares is Los Altos de Granadilla: white, cone-shaped rocky outcrops that result from the action of the wind and the sea on the volcanic rock.

The interior

The villages of interest hidden in the valleys and mountains here are so many, and so beautiful, that it would be impossible to name them all. Unlike today, in other ages people fled from the coast, preferring the more rugged, but also more fertile lands of the interior.
Their conception and location, on the crest of a ravine or in the depths of a valley, are proof of the ingeniousness the inhabitants were forced to develop in order to subsist. Narrow mountain roads will take you to end-of-the-world landscapes, where you will forget the beach for a day and discover a hidden facet of the island, greener and wilder.

If you are in the south, visit the high areas in the municipalities of Arona and Adeje, where the villages have preserved their traditional architecture, flower-lined streets and above all the laughter of the local people. Another extremely beautiful route is the one from Guía de Osora to Santiago de Teide, with small farmhouses that seem to defy the mountains.

In the Puerto de la Cruz area we recommend the valley of Orotava, with its gentle slopes dotted with palm trees and tropical flowers tumbling down into the sea with the majestic Teide as a backdrop. The old town of Orotava is the highlight of this trip, with its beautiful cobbled streets that contain the best examples of civil and religious architecture on the island. Don’t miss the rural scenery of Realejos either, truly picturesque for its vegetation and photogenic farmsteads.

Los Gigantes cliffs

These huge vertical walls that plunge abruptly into the sea are one of the most spectacular scenes on the island. Some of them reach heights of up to 600 metres. Near-tropical vegetation dominates the area, lending it a touch of exoticism.
The profile of these great colossuses is imposing, with their grand silhouettes that plunge into the water one after another. The indigenous inhabitants of the Canary Islands, the Guanches, attributed magical properties to this place. When you visit it, you will understand why.

Parrot Park (Loro Parque) in Puerto de la Cruz

As its name in Spanish suggests (Loro Parque means ‘Parrot Park’), this complex contains an important collection of parrots, to be specific the most important one in the world with around 353 specimens. But the diversity of animals does not end here: Loro Parque is also a complete zoo, with tigers, gorillas, chimpanzees, caimans, pelicans, jaguars, flamencos, sea lions and even a giant Galapagos turtle.

If you don’t like to see caged animals you won’t feel comfortable here, but the enormous selection of parrots and other species, which ensures a burst of colour, usually delights children.

Loro Parque can also boast the most important dolphinarium in Europe. The daily shows are extremely impressive and include both dolphins and seals.

Cetacean sighting

Eco-tourism is in fashion and on Tenerife, they know it. From different points in the south of the island, whale and dolphin-sighting excursions leave on a daily basis to seek out these cetaceans that populate the strait between the coast of Tenerife and La Gomera. The most common species are pilot whales and bottlenose dolphins but one can also see sperm whales and white whales.

Approach is regulated and restricted, but the vessels that go really do draw near, to the extent that at any moment one of these animals may splash you with a flick of its tail or after leaping out of the water.

Golf

North CoastReal Club de Golf de Tenerife: Spain’s second-oldest golf course still has a typically British air to it. Its extensive, undulating fairways are shaded by imposing, ancient pine trees. The spectacular views of the Teide are another one of the gifts this course offers.

South coastGolf Abama: Forests of palm trees and fantastic views of the island of La Gomera await you on this delightful course.

Golf Costa Adeje: The course respects the changing levels so typical of this area to perfection, and also the ancient farming terraces that dominate the surroundings. The sea and the island of La Gomera will accompany you all along the course.

Golf Las Américas: Set in the heart of Playa de las Américas, this course is designed like an amphitheatre and affords fantastic views of the immense ocean and the mountains.

Fishing

The rich, abundant marine fauna of the waters of Tenerife offer fishing enthusiasts more than one lure, the most famous one being the great blue marlin. Also known as the ‘picudo’ here, it can exceed 600 kilos in weight and is perfect for recreation, demanding an exciting exercise of skill. Other very common species on the coasts of Tenerife are tuna, swordfish, mako and gilthead bream.

Canoeing

This sport is increasingly popular and has become a habitual activity amongst visitors to the island. The routes and itineraries along the coast offer adventure, sport and plenty of fun. Enjoy the coast of Tenerife as you visit beauty spots that are inaccessible by land, or disembark on small, hidden beaches.

Diving

Its biodiversity, privileged climate and the sea which is nearly always calm make Tenerife a divingparadise. Sunken ships, caves and volcanic tubes are the ideal hiding place for coloured fish, enormous mantas, moray eels and many other species. The island has a complete network of centres available for experienced divers or beginners.

The waters of Playa Paraíso are highly recommended for beginner divers. Off the beach there is an immersion where you can swim amidst octopi, trumpetfish, sepias and above all enormous, playful spotted eagle rays.
Another extremely interesting spot is in El Puertito. Octopi and moray eels hide amongst its rocks, but the highlight is the two turtles that have chosen this place to make their home in.

Specialities

Fish: Tenerife’s cuisine is fuelled by traditional food. The simple yet delicious dishes are a faithful reflection of this. As in the rest of the Canary Islands, “el viejo” is one of the most typical fish. Stuffed and baked and served with the traditional wrinkly potatoes, its flesh is exquisite. Other fish found very frequently on local tables are sea bream, island grouper, sardines, tuna or wreckfish.

Meat: Rabbit and pork are the most popular meats. They can be accompanied by the omnipresent wrinkly potatoes, chestnuts – also frequently found on the island – and gofío, which is basically toasted ground cereals. This latter ingredient is one of the few used by the aboriginal islanders still to be consumed by modern Canarians.

Shopping

Puerto de la Cruz: The historic town centre of Puerto de la Cruz has a wide and attractive range of shops. The lively atmosphere of the port streets and their terraces, cafeterias and restaurants are sufficiently attractive to encourage you to shop and make use of your credit card.

Costa Adeje: There is a host of modern shopping centres in this tourist resort. In Costa Adeje, as in all shopping areas located in tourist resorts, there are many establishments selling electronic goods, perfumes and cosmetics, jewellery and international fashion, with a great many articles at relatively low prices due to the special tax regime that governs the Canary Islands.